Understanding the Motivational Factors for College Students to Remain Non-Smokers

Cigarette smoking has long been recognized as a negative health behavior. Numerous studies have linked cigarette smoking to cancer, heart and circulatory problems, lung disease, and an array of other health issues, leading to lower quality of life and premature death. There is a wealth of knowledge relating to the negative outcomes of smoking behavior (USDHHS, 2010) and the factors leading to smoking behavior among adolescents (USDHHS, 2012). However, researchers have studied factors leading to nonsmoking behavior much less. The present study uses the Theory of Planned Behavior to understand the motivational factors that lead to a student\u27s nonsmoking behavior, with the hypotheses that: (1) non-smokers will have the most favorable intention to not smoke; (2) non-smokers will have the most favorable attitudes toward non-smoking; (3) non-smokers will have the most favorable social perception of non-smoking; and (4) non-smokers will perceive the most control over their non-smoking